The spotlight has been on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for a while now. Their struggles in Test cricket are no secret. Kohli scored 382 runs in the last 10 Tests while averaging 22.47. Meanwhile, Rohit’s returns are worse. The India skipper got a mere 164 runs in his last 15 Test innings and averages just 10.93.
Kohli fell to his weakness outside the off-stump in every innings in Australia while Rohit just couldn’t bat long. However, former India cricketer Irfan Pathan believes that Test cricket poses different challenges and the star duo will bounce back strongly in the upcoming Champions Trophy. He believes that ODI cricket is Rohit and Kohli’s favourite format.
“They’ll start scoring runs in white-ball cricket; there’s no doubt about that. Test cricket is a different ball game altogether. Adjustments are needed, whether it’s Virat managing deliveries outside the off-stump or Rohit finding his rhythm. ODI is their favourite format, and they’ll bounce back strongly,” Irfan Pathan was quoted saying to PTI.
India played only three ODIs in 2024 where they lost 0-2 to Sri Lanka. Kohli got just 58 runs in three innings on that tour while Rohit top-scored with 157 runs. However, both players were in superb form in the 2023 World Cup. Kohli was the leading run-getter as he amassed 765 runs at an average of 95.62 while Rohit scored 597 runs at a strike-rate of 125.94.
Siraj could have been a good option for Champions Trophy: Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan also admitted that India needed a backup pace bowling option in the squad for the Champions Trophy 2025. India have picked only three frontline fast bowlers in the 15-man squad.
Jasprit Bumrah is still nursing a back issue while Mohammed Shami is returning from injury. Arshdeep Singh has played only eight ODIs. Thus, Pathan believed that Mohammed Siraj could have been a good option and four spinners is not the best option for Dubai where India will play all their games.
“You need a backup pacer. Siraj could have been a good option. In Dubai, playing four spinners isn’t viable. With Bumrah and Shami returning from injuries, it won’t be easy for them straight away. A pacer like Siraj would have filled that gap. That said, we hope the selectors’ choices perform well, and we should back them,” Pathan added.
